New 3D Model of Historic Package Freighter Congress Added to 3DShipwrecks.org

3DShipwrecks.org has just released a stunning new 3D model of the Congress, a wooden package freighter now resting within the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve. This detailed model is a significant addition to the digital archive and was created from 3,651 ultra-high-resolution (30 MP) images captured during two dives by underwater photographer Andrew Goodman in the 2025 season.

Originally built in 1867 in Cleveland under the name Nebraska, the 267-foot-long vessel was powered by twin steeple compound engines and two boilers, both of which remain clearly visible on the wreck site today. Over its long career, the Nebraska was involved in several collisions and sinkings and was eventually rebuilt in 1892 as an excursion vessel for the World’s Columbian Exposition (Chicago World’s Fair). In 1902, it was renamed Congress.

Tragically, the vessel met its final fate just two years later. In 1904, while unloading a cargo of lumber at South Manitou Island, the Congress caught fire. It was towed into the bay to protect the dock and other vessels, where it ultimately sank and was abandoned. Today, the wreck lies protected as part of the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve, serving as both an archaeological site and an advanced dive destination.

Explore the new 3D model and site details here:
https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-congress/

and read all about her – https://shotlinediving.com/docs/nebraska-us-18093/

The Congress wreck remains one of the most accessible and photogenic wooden freighters of its class, and this 3D visualization brings a critical piece of Great Lakes maritime history into high-resolution clarity for divers, researchers, and the public.